PM 40014105 - Autosphere.ca

March 2010, Volume 8, Number 2, $5.95, www.autosphere.ca

PM 4

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www.va lvo lin e .co m

More ASE-certified top mechanics use Valvoline in their own cars.*Mechanics can use any oil they want. They choose the one with a proven reputation for quality, protection and a history of innovation. Valvoline.

Only one person works on his car.

And only one oil works in his engine.

100 YEARS UNDER THE HOOD.TM

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Client Valvoline Canada

Client Contact Dennis Favaro (905-855-6500)

Creative Contact Jeff Maguire (403-398-5642)

Publication/Issue CASP

Filename Valvoline_ASE_Mech_EN_CASP.pdf

Date June 16, 2009

10 Customer SafetyLittle Things Mean a Lot!

12 Certigard Best in Class 2009Three of the Best!

16 Women in the AftermarketGetting Ahead in the Industry

19 Fuel Supply in a BowlInseparably Linked

20 PartsmartJay Oberoi Saw a Need—and Met It!

22 The North American International Auto ShowElectrifying Show in Detroit

24 Leader Profi leView from the Top

26 A/C CarePre-Summer A/C Inspections

28 MACS 2010 Convention

30 Safety CountsHow Safe Is Your Customer’s Suspension?

32 Health and SafetyIs Your Shop Safe?

34 Industry Events2010 Canadian International AutoShow Tech Highlights

F E A T U R E S

I N E V E R Y I S S U E . . .

12 22 28

4 Editorial Vehicle Health & Safety

6, 7, 31, 37Around the Industry

8, 9 New Products

37 Advertisers

C O V E R P A G E

36 Safety in the Workplace and Quality of Repairs You Have a Legal Responsibility

38 Garage BusinessUp in Smoke

2 0 1 0 E V E N T S C A L E N D A R

March 24AIA 2010 Grand ForumHôtel des SeigneursSaint-Hyacinthe, QC✆ Marie-Hélène Côté, 514-289-0888❚ [email protected]❚ www.aiacanada.com

April 20NASTF Spring 2010 General MeetingMeritage ResortNapa, CA❚ www.nastf.org

April 26-27APRA Exhibition & SymposiumCorinthia Grand Hotel RoyalBudapest, Hungary ✆ Jeanie Magathan, 703-968-2772, ext. 104❚ [email protected]❚ www.apra.org

March 2010Contents

www.bluestreak.ca

Visit us on the world stage.

Our new international calling card.by

CASP BS_Intermotor Contents Page material

www.bluestreak.ca

Visit us on the world stage.

Our new international calling card.by

CASP BS_Intermotor Contents Page material

April 28-29MEMA Legislative Summit 2010: Rebound, Recover, ReinventSofi tel Hotel, LaFayette Square, Washington, D.C. ❚ www.mema.org

| www.autosphere.ca | March 2010 | CarCare Business | 3

W hile these vehicles are built to last, motorists today want to keep their vehicles on the road even longer.

That’s where you come in Mr. ASP… it’s your role and your responsibility to make sure your client’s vehicle is safe for him to drive and that it is not spewing contaminants into the environment that will harm the air. As well as making the vehicle safe for your customer, you’re also addressing the health of those in the vehicle. It’s up to you to do a good job on that vehicle and maintain it on a regular basis.

Maintenance patient Compare yourself to doctors and dentists… their patients get regular ‘maintenance’ on their health issues and their teeth. You’re

Rémy L. Rousseau [email protected]

Vehicles of today are far

superior to those of years gone

by. They carry all kinds of new

technological features that are

constantly being updated and

once updated, need to be done

again. These new features are

directly concerned with the

safety aspects of the vehicle, in

protecting the environment and

the air we breathe.

Publisher & Editor Rémy L. Rousseau

Associate Publisher Shirley Brown

Contributing Editors Pierre Bissonnette, François Charron, Éric Descarries, Brian Early, Jack Kazmierski, Pierre Lalonde, Dave Redinger, Frank Tonon

Production Management Valérie St-Cyr [email protected]

Graphic Design Monique Desbiens [email protected]

Revision Shirley Brown

Administration Wendy Allain [email protected]élène Côté [email protected]

Circulation Management Nancy Belleville [email protected]

Sales Luc Champagne [email protected]

Nathalie Plouffe [email protected]

Réjean A. Rousseau [email protected]

Garth Vogan [email protected]

SubscriptionOne-year: $27.95 Two-year: $49.95 Three-year: $59.95

Published by Rousseau Automotive Communication455, rue Notre-Dame Est, suite 311Montréal, QC H2Y 1C9T : 514-289-0888, 1-877-989-0888 F : 514-289-5151

[email protected] www.autosphere.ca

CarCare Business Magazine is dedicated to serving the bu-siness interests of the maintenance and repair industry. It is published seven times a year by Rousseau Automotive Communication, a member of AIA Canada. Material in CarCare Business may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its ad-vertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Rousseau Automotive Communication.

Printed in Canada ISSN no. 1920-731X Publications Mail Agreement no. 40014105. Return un-delivrable Canadian addresses to Rousseau Automotive Communication / Circulation Department, 455, rue Notre-Dame Est, suite 311, Montréal, QC H2Y 1C9

in the same circumstance, only the client’s vehicle is the ‘patient’ that needs regular checkups and it’s your role and responsibility to do the best job you can on it. If you do it well, you will have fulfi lled the mission of mak-ing the car safe; it will run smoother, won’t pollute, and the driver and passengers will have their life and health protected.

You don’t need us to tell you that you should do a complete vehicle inspection on every vehicle that comes into your shop—again, it’s your role and responsibility. You owe it to your customers… you want them to be in a safe vehicle that does not empty emissions into the air.

Safe and emission free Today’s economy has not gotten a whole lot healthier than it was last year, but it is start-ing to turn around and is getting better. You will fi nd that because of the ‘bad’ economy, many of your clients are sticking with their ‘old’ vehicle; they cannot afford a new one yet. That’s good for you because they will bring their vehicles to you to make sure they are safe and emission free.

It’s up to you to schedule your ‘patients’ for regular maintenance—in fact, it’s your role and responsibility to put safe, clean vehicles on the road for your customers.

We invite you to come to our website www.

autosphere.ca, where you will find all the news, pertinent articles, and some great pictorials!

FSC PO

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Vehicle Health & Safety

What Role Are You Playing?

EdITORIAL

4 | CarCare Business | March 2010 | www.autosphere.ca |

Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc. is committed to delivering value to our clients. Our pricing program on the Dunlop Signature Family delivers a top quality product at a low price.

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20 Years of Service to the Trade

New Logo and NameLaunched in October 2007 to respond

to the urgent need for development of its employees and customers, the NAPA Centre of Excellence has a new logo and a new name: NAPA Excellence.

NAPA Excellence, which has over 6,000 members throughout the country, offers 750 on-line sessions available 24/7 as well as tools to evaluate your employees’ competencies. www.napaexcellence.ca

Uni-Select Expands Network With Strategic Acquisition

Uni-Select has purchased Automotive Information Management (AIM), a pro-gram distribution group, with head offices in Georgia. AIM offers a membership pro-gram granting access to preferred pur-chase terms offered by selected manufac-turers.

This acquisition will expand the Uni-Se-lect Network and increase drop ship sales (or the delivery of products directly from manufacturers to customers). After the transaction, AIM will maintain its oper-ations to serve its member customers.

Uni-Select AppointmentThe marketing department at Uni-Select

welcomes Steve Bujold as its new director of installer programs. Steve wil l be responsible for managing and expanding the network’s banners and programs for automotive service providers across Canada. He joins the na-tional marketing team after fulfilling different roles in sales and marketing at Uni-

Select for the last 10 years. Steve’s ex-perience in the industry will definitely be beneficial for all automotive service pro-viders within the network.

NASTF Spring Meeting April 20, 2010

The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has scheduled the Spring 2010 General Meeting for 1:30 pm, April 20 at the Meritage Resort in Napa, CA. It will be held in conjunction with the Equipment and Tool Institute’s ToolTech.

“The Spring meeting is usually held in cooperation with the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress,” said Charlie Gorman, NASTF chairman. “However, this year the SAE could not accommodate us, so the leadership voted to move the loca-tion to coincide with ToolTech.”

NASTF was established in 2000 to iden-tify, communicate and resolve gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, service training, diag-nostic tools, and equipment for the bene-fit of automotive service professionals and their customers. www.nastf.org

PAACE Mexico Announces Cooperation Agreement with ASA

PAACE Automechanika Mexico, Mexico and Central America’s automotive after-market international trade show will return to the Centro Banamex in Mexico City, Mexico, July 14-16. Messe Frankfurt and show partners APRA, MEMA and SEMA have announced a new cooperation agree-ment PAACE Mexico with the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the key associ-ation for the automotive service and repair professionals in the United States.

ASA will endorse the show to its mem-bership and also host up to 9 compliment-ary seminars in its areas of expertise—collision repair, business management, and mechanical topics. Automotive service and repair professionals in attendance at PAACE Automechanika Mexico 2010 will benefit from an enhanced educational pro-gram and expanded product categories on the show. www.PAACEAutomechanika.com

2009 Hans McCorriston Recipient

The Hans McCorriston Motive Power Ma-chinist Grant is a grant program for stu-dents pursuing careers as motive power machinists. The recipient of the 2009 Hans McCorriston is Noël Mathieu from Pointe Alexandre, New Brunswick, who is attending CCNB Bathurst.

Federal-Mogul Launches Year-Long Multi-Brand Campaign

Federal-Mogul Corporation has launched a campaign designed to reinforce the mes-sage that longer lasting, better performing premium replacement products are today’s best option for professionals and do-it-yourselfers performing any common auto-motive repair.

The Federal-Mogul Smart Choice cam-paign will extend throughout 2010 and has been developed in response to ex-tensive consumer research showing that today’s vehicle owners prefer replacement products that are specifically engineered for their vehicles, help improve vehicle performance, help extend their vehicles’ service life, and provide a safer, more reli-able vehicle.

The campaign will be reinforced through in-store point-of-sale materials and a new campaign website to promote products and announce campaign news and up-dates. In addition, cash incentives will be offered to consumers who choose to main-tain or repair their vehicles with products available through Federal-Mogul.

The brands featured in the promotion cover all major powertrain and vehicle sys-tem repair categories and include: ANCO wipers, Champion spark plugs, Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads and shoes, and Wagner lighting products.

INdUSTRy NEWS


40 Years of Growth for CARDONE CARdONE Industries is celebrating its 40th anniversary of remanufacturing reliable

and affordable automotive parts. Michael Cardone Sr. and son, Michael Jr., launched the business in a small storefront row home in Philadelphia.

In early 1970, the original “Factory Family” began with only 6 employees remanufac-turing a single product line—wiper motors. Forty years later, they have grown to more than 5,000 employees, offering 70-plus product lines and more than 40,000 SKUs of new and remanufactured hard parts.

CARdONE’s dynamic growth has spread worldwide over the years. Today, they operate several production and warehouse facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bel-gium, and United Kingdom. Unlike many global companies, CARdONE remains a family owned business now led by its second and third generation.

More Than 800 New Parts, Expanded Foreign-Nameplate Coverage

The new MOOG master chassis catalogue features more than 800 new parts, extensive new coverage of late-model foreign-name-plate applications, and hundreds of additional parts photos. The cata-logue, covering thou-sands of applications from 1991 through the 2009 model year, is now available.

Among the new parts highlighted are more than 200 sway bar link kits, 192 tie rod ends, 123 control arms, 76 ball joints, 68 control arm bushing kits, and 43 strut mounts. Federal-Mogul also has expanded MOOG coverage of sway bar bushing kits, coil spring seats/isolators, pitman arms, drag links, and other components.

The new catalogue also includes eight of the latest MOOG Problem Solver Bulletins, each featuring an exclusive solution to a leading chassis repair challenge facing to-day’s automotive service professionals.

To receive a copy of the new MOOG Mas-ter Chassis Catalogue, contact your Feder-al-Mogul sales representative. A database of MOOG repair solutions can be accessed 24/7 at www.FMe-cat.com and www.moog-problemsolver.com.

Wakefi eld Canada HonouredWakefi eld Canada has been named amongst the Top 50 Best Small and Medium Em-

ployers in Canada. Ranking in the top half of the list again this year, Wakefi eld Canada has emerged as a Canadian business leader by grasping an opportunity for excellence in the automotive aftermarket. The study, now in its fi fth year, is published in the Globe and Mail.

“We’re delighted to receive this accolade for a second year. This recognition is par-ticularly important because it is based on the feedback that every member of Wakefi eld had an opportunity to provide during the employee survey process,” said Bob Macdon-ald, president, Wakefi eld Canada.

INdUSTRy NEWS


Diesel ChemicalsTerraClean’s new Terradiesel Chemical line up is now avail-

able, and it includes Multi-Function Fuel Treatment, d-Gel, Fuel Injector Cleaner, and Fuel Treatment.

Fuel Injector Cleaner is a rapid cleanup product for diesel engines that signifi cantly lowers emissions and

improves performance in as little as two hours of normal operation. Fuel Treat-

ment is an all season addi-tive that will disperse it’s own volume of water from fuel without the use of harmful alcohols. d-Gel is an emer-gency fuel treatment thath quickly melts ice and dis-solves gelled diesel fuels in cold environments. Multi-Function Fuel Treatment re-

moves water, improves lubri-city and fuel atomization and raises the cetane

level of a 40 rated fuel by 4-6 points. It also cleans the fuel system of gums and deposits and helps keep catalytic particulate traps clean. 905-615-8620 / [email protected]

Flexible Head LED with Industrial Strength Magnet

This Cliplight super powerful LEd light attaches to car or work area with a strong base magnet. With “bend anywhere and stay there” fl exibility, this light meets the exacting needs and standards of technicians looking for ways to be more productive.

The LEd provides over 100,000 hours of illumina-tion; it has a compact 4.5” aluminum body with ano-dized fi nish; the LEd light head extends 13.5” – 18.5” from the magnetic base; it includes 3 AA batteries and weighs just under a pound. www.cliplight.com

Energy Effi cient Air CompressordV Systems has launched a new 10 HP tank mounted

rotary screw air compressor called the Huron (B10VSd). This energy effi cient tool fea-tures a revolutionary single phase design with a minimal amp draw of only 55 A RMS; a direct drive, for improved performance; and a variable speed drive with VS20 controller that eliminates in-

rush current and constantly matches the energy use with air demand. In addition, it is powered by a high quality North American TEFC 230/1 phase industrial electric motor. www.

dvsystems.ca

First Choice Electronic Throttle BodiesCARdONE’s Electronic Throttle Body SKUs cover over 10 million

vehicles—fast moving applications include: Nissan Altima/Sentra, 2002-2005 Part #670002 and Chevrolet/GMC Trucks, 2003-2006 Part #673000.

New Products

Quality features include—a meticu-lous cleaning process to ensure the throttle bore surface is not deformed; new mounting gaskets to ensure prop-er seal; and 100% electronic testing of motor and throttle plate to ensure reliable performance.

www.cardone.com

Professional Master Fuel Injection Kit

OTC now has a Professional Master Fuel In-jection Kit—a full coverage tool set that was developed to accommodate nearly every fuel injection system ap-plication on most domestic and foreign engine plat-forms 1988 to present.

The components of the kit include 47 of the OTC fuel injection adapters, a 0-100 PSI analog pressure gauge with manifold for ac-

curate pressure reading and basic fl ow testing, hose assem-blies and a variety of seals, fuel

line and clamps.The key feature of the “PRO” is The Professional

Fuel Injection Application Manual with 1997 to 2008 Make/Model/year/Vin application data, referencing the fuel pump disable points, OE fuel pressure specs, adapter number and fuel line access points. OE labor rate information in the operating instructions provides the convenience of having a single point of service information. The operating instructions are printed in English, Spanish, and French to support the North American technician base. The fully detailed user manual includes test con-nection illustrations and application charts. The manual is available for purchase separately as well. Many more features are included. www.otctools.com

Install a Clean Attractive Look

The Bosch ICON OE Solution blades have seven part numbers that can interface to re-place 17 Aerotwin and 9 ICON OE style sets of wiper blades. When installed, they present a clean appearance and optimal mounting point. The part num-bers provide premium ICON bracketless wiper blades for vehicles equipped with unique connector systems, as well as ICON wiper blades for traditional wiper arm connectors. This ensures simple installation and also reduces inventory require-ments.

The ICON OE Solutions’ interface mounting system is great for distributors and service specialists. With no adapters to install, this system is simple and totally intuitive. Snap lock connections are inserted in an easy one-step process and for top lock connectors, the wiper blade adapter top cover is simply removed and the connector snaps into place.

www.boschautoparts.com/WiperBlades/Pages/Icon.aspx

moves water, improves lubri-

Diesel ChemicalsTerraClean’s new Terradiesel Chemical line up is now avail-

able, and it includes Multi-Function Fuel Treatment, d-Gel, Fuel Injector Cleaner, and Fuel Treatment.

Fuel Injector Cleaner is a rapid cleanup product for diesel engines that signifi cantly lowers emissions and


ment is an all season addi-tive that will disperse it’s own volume of water from fuel without the use of harmful alcohols. d-Gel is an emer-gency fuel treatment thath quickly melts ice and dis-solves gelled diesel fuels in cold environments. Multi-Function Fuel Treatment re-


TerraClean’s new Terradiesel Chemical line up is now avail-able, and it includes Multi-Function Fuel Treatment, d-Gel,

Fuel Injector Cleaner, and Fuel Treatment.Fuel Injector Cleaner is a rapid cleanup product for diesel engines that signifi cantly lowers emissions and


ment is an all season addi-tive that will disperse it’s own volume of water from fuel without the use of harmful alcohols. d-Gel is an emer-gency fuel treatment thath quickly melts ice and dis-solves gelled diesel fuels in cold environments. Multi-


This Cliplight super powerful LEd light attaches to car or work area with a strong base magnet. With “bend anywhere and stay there” fl exibility, this light meets the exacting needs and standards of technicians looking for ways to be

The LEd provides over 100,000 hours of illumina-tion; it has a compact 4.5” aluminum body with ano-dized fi nish; the LEd light head extends 13.5” – 18.5” from the magnetic base; it includes 3 AA batteries and

www.cliplight.com

Energy Effi cient Air CompressordV Systems has launched a new 10 HP tank mounted

rotary screw air compressor called the Huron (B10VSd). This energy effi cient tool fea-tures a revolutionary single

0-100 PSI analog pressure gauge with manifold for ac-

curate pressure reading and basic fl ow testing, hose assem-blies and a variety of seals, fuel

line and clamps.The key feature of the “PRO” is The Professional

Fuel Injection Application Manual with 1997 to 2008 Make/Model/year/Vin application data, referencing the fuel pump disable points, OE fuel pressure specs, adapter number and fuel line access points. OE labor rate information in the operating instructions provides the convenience of having a single point of service information. The operating instructions are printed in English, Spanish, and French to support the North American technician base. The fully detailed user manual includes test con-nection illustrations and application charts. The manual is available for purchase separately as well. Many more features are included. www.otctools.com

Install a Clean Attractive Look

Quality features include—a meticu-lous cleaning process to ensure the throttle bore surface is not deformed; new mounting gaskets to ensure prop-er seal; and 100% electronic testing of motor and throttle plate to ensure

rotary screw air compressor called the Huron (B10VSd). This energy effi cient tool fea-tures a revolutionary single phase design with a minimal amp draw of only 55 A RMS; a direct drive, for improved performance; and a variable speed drive with VS20 controller that eliminates in-

rush current and constantly matches the energy use with air demand. In addition, it is powered by a high quality North American TEFC 230/1 phase industrial electric motor.

dvsystems.ca

First Choice Electronic Throttle Bodies

place 17 Aerotwin and 9 ICON OE style sets of wiper blades. When installed, they present a clean appearance and optimal mounting point. The part num-bers provide premium ICON bracketless wiper blades for vehicles equipped with unique connector systems, as well as ICON wiper blades for traditional wiper arm connectors. This ensures simple installation and also reduces inventory require-

The ICON OE Solutions’ interface mounting system is great for distributors and service specialists. With no adapters to install, this system is simple and totally intuitive. Snap lock connections are inserted in an easy one-step process and for top lock connectors, the wiper blade adapter top cover is simply removed and the connector

www.boschautoparts.com/WiperBlades/Pages/Icon.aspx


New Products

Complete Leak Detection Kit

Tracer Products introduced the EZ-Ject A/C and Fluid Kit, a special kit that makes it easy for techni-cians to find all air condition-ing and fl uid leaks the fi rst time and avoid costly come-backs. The kit fea-tures the OPTIMAX Jr, a mini blue light LEd leak de tec t ion flashlight with mega power that reveals the smallest leaks. It’s ideal for leak checking hard-to-reach spots that are inaccessible to larger lamps. This super-compact leak detector has a 100,000-hour service life and is powered by three AA batteries, which are included.

Also included are an EZ-Ject A/C dye injector with hose and couplers, EZ-Ject uni-versal A/C dye cartridge with Fluoro-Lite dye for about 14 vehicles, dye-Lite All-In-One oil dye for up to two vehicles, dye-Lite coolant/auto body leak dye and fl uorescence-enhancing glasses.

www.tracerline.com / www.coventa.ca

Professional A/C Stop Leak LeakGuard is now certifi ed to meet SAE J2670 Stan-

dard—assurance that it’s safe for use in automotive air conditioning systems and service equipment. It’s fully compatible with R-134a and R-12. Being an oil-based sealant, LeakGuard will not harden, crystallize or clog the A/C system or refrigerant recycle equipment. It’s available in a 240 ml cartridge for use with the Spotgun Injection System.

LeakGuard seeks out oxygen and air fl ow at the leak point. It is then pushed through the leak by the pressure in the system and congeals and forms a chemical weld at the leak point. Used for preventative maintenance, it will remain in the vehicle’s A/C sys-tem as a high quality lubricant until such time that a leak occurs. As well, LeakGuard eliminates those costly “come backs” because of hard to fi nd leaks. www.uview.com

Rear Wiper BladesFederal-Mogul Corporation has introduced a comprehensive new line of

ANCO rear wiper blades, covering more than 95% of rear integral blade ap-plications.

Featuring original equipment look and fi t, new ANCO rear blades provide excel-lent wiping performance as well as fast, easy installation without the need for extra con-nectors. The new product line includes 11-, 12- and 14-inch wiper lengths and all four common arm connection types.

The rear blades are now available for applications for each of the following global nameplates: Acura, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infi niti, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Scion, Sub-aru, Suzuki, and Toyota.

www.federalmogul.com

Complete Leak Detection

Tracer Products introduced the EZ-Ject A/C and Fluid Kit, a special kit that makes it easy for techni-cians to find all air condition-ing and fl uid leaks the fi rst time and avoid costly come-

LEd leak de tec t ion flashlight with mega power that reveals the smallest leaks. It’s ideal for leak checking hard-to-reach spots that

LeakGuard is now certifi ed to meet SAE J2670 Stan-

nameplates: Acura, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infi niti, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Scion, Sub-aru, Suzuki, and Toyota.

www.federalmogul.com


W inter is still with us although many of us wish it were long gone! Driving conditions in some

areas of Canada are still treacherous and care is needed when driving your vehicle.

Safety is a major factor when starting out on a journey or even just driving the vehicle to work. Many “small” items could be overlooked that could cause your cus-tomer some grief when it’s least needed.

For instance, did you know—especially in this cold weather—that the little light

behind the sun visor on the passenger side could kill your customer’s battery if it stays on? If your client is experiencing a constant dead battery, you may want to quickly check that item out. Another check to routinely perform is to have a look at the license plate lights—they shouldn’t be forgotten.

DRL System The Daylight Running Lights (DRL) system is mandatory in Canada and needless to say, these bulbs do burn out. Something else to consider is that the parking brake on some vehicles can shut down the DRL. Yep, sometimes the driver can accidentally apply the parking brake just a little and it stays on because to release it, the pedal

has to be applied all the way down and because of that the DRL will not function. But… you knew that, didn’t you?

Dash lights are another item that is often forgotten in a checkup—sometimes inten-tionally because they are so hard to re-place. When you check all the lights on the

vehicle, it is certainly very much appreci-ated by your cus-tomer and of course, this is what they term “good service.”

Windshield wipersLet’s talk for a minute about the wind-shield wipers. Be sure to caution your customer that before they turn off their vehicle’s engine that they make sure the wipers are in the “park” position. Not everyone has a garage, and you never know when there will be freezing rain dur-ing the night. In the morning when your client turns the key in the ignition, the wiper motor receives the signal to start. If the blades are frozen to the windshield, that customer could possibly end up with two broken blades or even two broken wiper arms. Relate a scenario like this to your customer and I’ll bet they won’t forget it!

Replacing the bladesAnd how about re-placing the blades… you know the correct way of doing this, but

if you sell a set to your customer and he doesn’t want to wait while you install them, do they know there is a correct way and a wrong way to do this—especially with the new “fl at” blades! Please mention this fact to your customer if you do not install his new blades at your shop.

And don’t forget the rear wiper blade—the problem with it is that the arm loses its tension after some time, so you will need to free it up for your customer. Another part of good service!

As I said before, checking your customer’s vehicle’s lights and wipers certainly won’t make you a million dollars, but it will go a long way to keep your customers happy and returning to you for service time and again. In turn, this keeps you in business and earning money!

Customer Safety

Little Things Mean a Lot!you won’t get rich doing routine checks on smaller automotive parts, but they are just as important as the bigger items… especially for the safety of your customer.

Pierre Bissonnette [email protected]

Pierre Bissonnette was the technical instructor for a major aftermarket manufactur-er. He holds a teaching certifi cate in andragogy – which is the art and science of helping

adults, whose general education has been cut short, in their learning process.

Be sure to caution your customer that before they turn off their vehicle’s engine that they

make sure the wipers are in the “park” position.

Another check to routinely perform is to have a look at the license plate lights—they shouldn’t be forgotten.


Now, We Do It All!

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A P P R O V A L S

It’s an honour to write about the Certigard Best in Class franchisees again this year—they do

one heck of a job! These men have it fi gured out; they’re hard working, they’re honest with

their customers, they’re knowledgeable, and they sincerely want to be at the top of the class.

That’s what they strive for in their business. Congratulations to three of the Best in Class!

“I ’ve come to the conclusion that the best shops in the aftermarket really boil down to the owner/oper-

ator’s ability to achieve three key things:

1) The ability to find and sell every thing the vehicle needs. Our philosophy is ‘What a vehicle needs IS what a vehicle needs!’ This is a simple state-ment—you assess a vehicle and take the state of that vehicle as something that needs to be communicated, then apply the Motorists Assurance Program process in terms of ‘required’ versus ‘suggested’ work. The concept is the same with all vehicles that come into a shop, it should be a goal to find and properly communicate everything the vehicles need! The Best in Class shops succeed in doing that.

2) The Best in Class shops are driven to keep their technicians full. What makes the difference here is how this objective is managed—every day, day after day. In other words, it becomes a strategy, an objective, and this is where the Best in Class shops get into scheduling, work order

Certigard Best in Class 2009

Three of the Best!

A d V E R T O R I A L

John Watt is manager, Certigard and Automotive. His knowledge and expertise provides help, in many cases, to the success of franchisees.


control—they make sure appointments are set up months ahead of time. In effect, they do not have ‘slow’ days, and they ‘control’ their busy days. If they waited and worked only on vehicles that dropped in every day, the work would not be there all the time, nor would the profit. The Best in Class shops know it’s neces-sary to keep the techs full but they go beyond that into the realm of ‘doing’ the scheduling and managing appointments days in advance so that their technicians are busy every day.

3) Clientele attitude: the Best in Class shops have a clientele that experience a high level of satisfaction—they’re happy customers! They are satisfied to the point that they will and want to go back to that shop. But beyond that, these happy customers rant and rave about that shop, they refer others to the location. And they don’t stop there; they put some context in the referral. That’s what Best in Class shops get… a very complimentary referral. The insight here is a shop with 20% of its custom-ers making referrals is not doing everything it could versus a shop with 70% referrals. This makes a big difference.”

To sum up—in order to be Best in Class, Certigard franchisees fi nd and communi-cate everything the vehicles need, they keep their techs full with proper work fl ow controls and techniques, and they do what is needed so that their customers are very happy to the point they make referrals.

fi xed. All these things work well together to make customers satisfi ed,” states Jean.

High effi ciency rate“In our centre, we have 5 bays, 5 licensed technicians, and 2 service advisors. Our effi ciency rate last year was 137% and we’re very proud of that. Our techs really like what they do and strive to be the best all the time. They also endeavour to do their work in the best time possible—it’s important to them.

“Each week, we have a review meeting—d i s c u s s i n g what we d id last week and what we must do this week. We determine a ‘special focus of the week’ but we also talk a b o u t w h a t went right last week and what went wrong! The techs and t h e s e r v i c e adviser know exact ly what

we’ve done and what we have to do. We make a big effort to track objectives each day and always review them at the end of the week. My techs and service advisor know every number, so when employees know these things, they focus on the ob-jective and work to get it done.”

Training is imperative“My techs are also very well trained on shop time; they go to the daytime Uni-Select training—our favourite—and each have about 40 training hours per year. We have a wall in the reception area that

Jean Bouchard achieved an average of 2.5 labour hours per transaction in 2009.Jean Bouchard runs a very successful Certigard franchise in Boucherville, Québec. His labour hours sold per transaction have increased from the 1.2–1.3 hour range several years ago to the current number. This hap-pened when he and his staff focused harder on the maintenance aspect of servicing vehicles—Jean is quite confi dent this helped in his success.

“We treat our customers well; for example, I had a woman with her children come in for service. When her vehicle was fi nished, we helped get the children back in the car and put their seat belts on—a small thing, but it’s appreciated. We have six brand new courtesy cars available for guests. We wash everyone’s car while it is in our possession—even if they just have an oil change—and we keep our premises very clean. We don’t give the guest any sur-prises—the estimate is given before we start the work and that’s the same total they’re presented with when the vehicle is



Three of the Best!

>

Shirley Brown [email protected]



shows what my technicians have been trained in and received diplomas for. They prefer hands-on experience over on-line training and take the necessary courses in order to be knowledgeable about today’s vehicles.

“Productivity starts with training, but techs must also have good tools and I provide them with the best equipment possible. They’re aware that I check their effi ciency constantly and they know they have to measure up to the productivity daily. On the subject of work orders, there are never more than 4 cars daily per tech. Our average for the last 4 years has been 3.6 cars per tech per day and that allows us to earn over $1.5 million in sales!”

Work order control“I believe daily work order control is our key to success. We also believe in servicing no more than 20 cars per day. That’s why we have courtesy cars because if we have a big job to do on one, we sometimes can’t manage to get it done that day. It’s my job to give the tech the amount of work he can handle effi ciently and correctly in one day.

“Eighty percent of the cars coming to our facility are given our 300-point Certigard inspection—the old formula. The guest is told what the car needs and they decide what to have repaired. We also use MAP (Motorist Assurance Program): work that is required, or maintenance that is sug-gested by the automaker.

”We’re fortunate in our community—the majority of our customers tell us to go ahead and do what needs to be done… no pressure is applied. It’s getting tougher, but we just want to be in the same situa-tion as we were last year… that will make me happy!”

Danny Parigoris achieved $1 million in sales is his 3-bay shop.Danny Parigoris’ Certigard f ranch ise i s in Toronto, Ontario in the Mt. Pleasant area. He does well at his busi-ness through hard work and embracing what he learns. There are three licensed tech-nicians, a service writer, and manager employed at this shop.

“We faithfully use our follow-up system calling the customer after their vehicle has been in to make sure everything is okay,” says Danny. “We also have an automatic ‘thank you’ done over the phone. In addition, Certigard has Customer Satisfaction surveys completed on new customers to see how we per-formed. This is our main way of fi nding out how our guests rate us—and we seem to be doing just fi ne.”

Motivation is rewardedDanny went on to tell us about team mo-tivation and leadership. “We have ‘gear-up’ meetings usually at the start of every day. We set goals and targets—both busi-ness and personal—for our staff members and once these goals are achieved, that member or members are rewarded. We focus on different products and services daily. The reward could be lunch for the staff or some other sort of recognition for the achievement.”

On the topic of daily work order control, Danny told us that they pre-book ap-pointments. For example, for a month in the future where they can predict they will not be as busy, they always try to fi ll in the gaps with appointments taken

3-4 months earlier. After a service has been done in May, for example, an appointment with that guest is discussed and entered for September. This way they’re always in control over their work orders. Since they have three technicians and three bays, there should be no more than three vehicles per tech in for service that day. They will book those vehicles and then book after the fact if there’s anything more to

be done. In this way, they always have control of the vehicles and when they do their inspec-tions, they are done 100%!

Vehicle inspections“We pride ourselves on our vehicle inspec-tions,” says Danny. “Each vehicle that comes in for the Certigard Service Special gets an in-spection too. This is an inspection sheet we fi ll out and report back to our guest. It covers a multitude of items i.e. wipers, lights, strength of antifreeze, tire tread depth, hoses, belts, battery, etc.—we cover the vehicle.

“Technician productivity is measured on sales and is influenced by work order control as well. If you have work order control in place, effi ciency can also be achieved at the 120-130% level. If it weren’t in place, you’d be scrambling because you would have too many cars to service and you wouldn’t get the pro-ductivity and effi ciency you’d like to have.

“Our staff members are always training after hours by taking available on-line training. This is accessible through suppliers, through Centennial College as well as various online sites. Being able to get training through the computer is quite valuable.”


Three of the Best! (Cont’d)



MAP“Our Certigard franchise uses the Motorists Assurance Program (MAP) with our selling. MAP is pretty straightforward. It plainly explains what is required and what is suggested in relation to service on the guest’s vehicle.”

Danny went on to say that he likes to be open-minded and that he does embrace change and rolls with it. He tries what is suggested and if it works, he keeps that process in place. “I also want to say that we’re very grateful to have a franchisor like John Watt guiding us. He teaches us many things and keeps us up-to-date. His knowledge and guidance is extremely important and helpful to us,” concludes Danny.

Harlow Allen achieved sales of $478,000 per bay in 2009.Harlow Allen is the Certigard franchisee of this Calgary, Alberta location. At his re-quest and recommenda-tion, Service Manager Steve Wimmer did the perform-ance interview and tells how these figures came about. This is in recognition that the performance of that site is absolutely due to Steve.

“Customer satisfaction is a measurement of what you’re doing right,” says Steve. “Within Certigard, we have a system that works well. When new customers arrive, we phone them after fixing the vehicle to see that everything is OK. Our large clientele base has been with us for many years. The fact that these customers keep returning must mean they’re happy with the service they’re receiving. We also have a lot of referral business—our customers are our best advertisement!”

Staff your bays right“You need to staff your bays properly. Many shops aren’t taking full advantage of having one tech per bay. We’re kind of in the opposite situation where we’ve outgrown our facility. We actually have more technicians than service bays, so we stagger some shifts to get as much work as possible out of the bays. Adequately staffi ng your bays is a big issue. If you’re operating the facility correctly, you’ll have enough business to fill your bays that should be staffed with well-trained technicians.

“We’re constantly sending our techs to further training and upgrading as the new technologies must be learned. Most of our techs take 3-4 courses per year and they’re all hands-on training. We have to keep up with the new technology. This

relates to Customer Service because we can say, ‘Yes, we know how to fi x that new technol-ogy on your car—no need to go back to the dealer!’ You just can’t turn customers away because they will ques-tion your competency.”

Bonuses are good“We keep our staf f happy, we pay them well, we have a flex-ible easy-going work-place and our staff is well aware of what is

expected of them. It’s rare that I have to tell them that something isn’t good. We also have a bonus program for our techs. Based on sales, there’s an incremental scale to increase their hourly wage… i.e.

anything starting at $125,000 a month gives them $1.00 an hour bonus, etc. This can really add up. Our staff knows their job well—lots of stability and consistency here.

“Our work order control comes from ex-perience. The ultimate goal is to keep each tech busy every minute of his day. If he isn’t, that falls on the shoulders of the person running the shop! My job is to keep those techs busy every minute. It’s a fi ne line—you have to make sure you have enough work to keep them busy, but not so much that they will not get the work done. You need to have the appropriate job go to the appropriate technician. Parts are a big item… you need to have the cor-rect parts ready to do the job. Very good organizational skills on the front counter are a necessity and can keep the shop run-ning above 100% productivity.”

Complete inspections “Basically any time we have a vehicle in the shop, we’re going to check it over completely for the customer’s well being. If we find something that’s a potential safety issue or a maintenance item that should be done for the sake of the vehicle, we’ll inform the guest. Any time a vehicle is in your shop you should be looking for potential sales.

“You have to have vehicle knowledge, enough expertise that when you’re speak-ing to people you can actually make them understand what you’re telling them. You need to be able to read people and react to them differently (if needed)—this is very important. We must instill confi dence in our guests so they’ll keep coming back! Go with the things that work best at your location!”

Steve Wimmer


I like talking to women in the after-market across the country—they have some great things to say about other

people and the industry itself.

diane BellGord Davenport AutomotiveDiane Bell has been with Gord Davenport Automotive in Orangeville, Ontario for 32 years! In fact, Davenport’s has been her only employer.

“I was still in high school when I started working for Mr. Davenport. I came in after school and on Saturdays—I was the ‘Girl Friday’, as they say. I worked in the store and helped Mr. Davenport outside the business with his many projects for the town of Orangeville.

“Right after I fi nished high school, I started working for Gord Davenport Automotive on a full time basis. I did the fi ling—three different copies went into three differ-

ent files—and helped with inventory. I drove for driv-ers at lunchtime if needed… I did whatever needed to be done, like a ‘Jack of all Trades’. When I started, there were no computers at any of their stores; we were on the Cardex system. I helped them get started on the computer by filling out spreadsheets, inserting part numbers and descriptions, inventory lev-els, and putting the informa-tion from the Cardex onto the computer. I was helping to get the store into the com-puter age. Wherever I could help out, I did.

“Gord Davenport allowed me to work on my own schedule. I came in at the ground level and learned from there as I did more and more jobs around the store. Today I am a liaison between the counter people and our suppliers. I

order parts for them, I source what they can’t fi nd, and I troubleshoot and try to solve any problems we’re having through-out our four locations. There are certain suppliers that we send our drivers to once or twice a week. At that point, we put all our orders together and I take care of the ordering for everyone. These are primarily body panels that can be easily damaged in shipping.

“I grew up in Orangeville, I stayed in Orangeville, and I like to be in this com-munity. Having a job here is just great… I meet people all the time that knew me when I was a child.

“Getting into the aftermarket industry, I believe, is still tough for a woman; you will take your knocks. You don’t have to necessarily prove yourself, but you do have to have confi dence in what you are doing, then you will be accepted by this male-dominated industry. You have to do what is best for the company and for your customers.”

Susie deSantisKeystone Automotive IndustriesSusie DeSantis is general manager of Keystone Automotive Industries in Brampton, Ontario. She’s been in the aftermarket for 15 years—her first job was with Quinte Bumper & Fender, which was sold to Keystone in January 2005.

“I personally have a lot of interest in the automotive industry—I love to work on vehicles in my spare time. It’s a hobby for

Women in the Aftermarket

Getting Ahead in the IndustryToday’s aftermarket is much different than it was 25 years ago! In that era, not many women

were part of this great industry. Times have changed, and so have women’s roles in the execu-

tive, management, and sales domains, as well as other levels.


Diane Bell


me, and so I looked for employment in the automotive industry. I applied to Quinte Bumper & Fender and started off on the

order desk. Through the years, I went from the order desk to both inside and outside sales, then marketing and management, so I came up through the ranks!

“When Keystone purchased Quinte, I re-mained as general manager. Today I run a facility of over 75,000 sq. ft. and we ser-vice a population base of over 9 million,” states Susie.

Brampton ’s Keystone Automot ive Industries is a brand new state-of-the-art facility that has a distribution set up for both aftermarket and salvage. Keystone has a central order desk that takes the orders for the greater parts of southwest-ern Ontario, Golden Horseshoe, and GTA regions. They service parts distributors, collision repair shops (body shops), auto-mobile dealerships, and service garages—pretty much any segment of the collision repair industry.

“We have an outside sales force in every region as well as a high volume of B2B

business,” says Susie. “Our main parts are collision repair items. We just moved into this facility in November 2009 and

we pretty much run a 24-hour operation here Sunday through Friday. We are a Hub for Ontario, with a cross-dock distribu-tion set up. We de-l iver sa lvage and aftermarket daily, with twice daily ser-vice in the local GTA market.”

Susie is responsible for running the entire branch—overseeing all the inside phone sales representatives, the outs ide sales fo rce, warehouse operations, delivery force… pretty much

every aspect of the business.

“I’ve been in this industry for a while and enjoy the growth of the business, seeing it grow high double digits year over year,” says Susie. “It’s personal fulfillment for

me and part of my life. My job is almost a passion with me. I’ve been here about 15 years and it’s a joy to come to work each day. I strongly believe you have to walk in every morning liking what you do. If young ladies want to get into the automotive aftermarket, I would tell them not to let anything stop them—there are endless opportunities in the industry. They may wish to experience every aspect of it like I did and fi nd their own niche.”

Linda donnini Uni-SelectLinda Donnini is with Uni-Select in Boucherville, Quebec, a major warehouse distributor of automotive aftermarket parts.

“Setting foot in the aftermarket has proved to be as much a challenge as a career-advancing opportunity for me and that’s what motivated my decision to jump into automotive aftermarket distribution.”

says Linda. “I’d been in retail and manu-facturing but distribution was an industry I hadn’t tried yet.

“I started as a Director of Marketing and am currently Senior Director of Marketing.

PHOT

O: M

ARIE

-JOS

ÉE R

OUSS

EAU

Susie DeSantis

Linda Donnini

>


I look after all the marketing programs across Canada for both the members and automotive service providers, as well as our TechPro training program, which is a very important component in the mix. My role entails building loyalty and developing various programs to spur or-ganic growth. I must evaluate what the customers’ needs are and try to provide business-building tools for them to grow their businesses. I’m also heavily involved in the virtual community which basically includes all the e-commerce and online tools we provide our customers. Playing a role in the strategic planning process gives me a broad view of the direction we are heading for future growth and helps me develop the appropriate programs.

“And to accomplish all this, I’m sup-ported by a great team, which consists of 15 people, fi ve of whom report directly to me. I’ve learned to delegate and to trust my team. In empowering them and guid-ing them in the right direction, I’ve gotten amazing results. And Uni-Select is a great company to work for; it’s been a good fi t for me because they strongly believe in the entrepreneurial spirit and allow people to grow.

“I also got involved in the YES commit-tee (Young Executives Society) because I strongly believe in AIA Canada. When the opportunity came up and YES was looking for a Vice Chair, I was asked to fi ll that role. I’ve learned a lot with this group and believe we’ve taken it to a new level—back to the basics of providing a forum for young executives to grow. As current Chair, I am proud to state that we provide them with networking opportunities as well as workshops to learn about the chal-lenges and different facets of the industry.

“The one thing you need to succeed in this industry is passion, whether you are male or female—passion for what you do and passion for the aftermarket in general. A woman in the industry should not lose focus of that, not try so much to ‘fi t in’ with the male crowd, but just be yourself, be confi dent and share your knowledge.

As long as you look at yourself as an equal with everyone else, there’s really nothing that should stop you.”

Teresa FirthLordcoTeresa Firth is currently an outside sales representative for Lordco in British Col-umbia. She, too, has been in the after-market industry for some years.

“My fi rst job was with Hutco Parts—Ed Coates’ brother’s business—in 1984. I started there as a parts driver and in ’88 Ed purchased Hutco and I went to work for Lordco. At this point, I was working the counter—likely the only female counter-person in the organization then. Lordco has given me a lot of opportunities and both Ed and Doug Coates have presented them to me.

“In 1993, I was asked if I would like to do outside sales… I knew a lot of my custom-ers because I had delivered parts to them and, of course, sold them parts when I was on the counter. This was good as far as I was concerned… the relationships had already been built. Strength is built when you call on people weekly!

“I assist about 100 customers in the

Langley and Cloverdale area. As to my responsibilities with this position, I con-sider that the outside sales person is the ‘person in the middle’ making sure the customer is looked after and making sure the company is looked after as well. You see your customers on a weekly basis when you visit them to sell them product they need, do any returns, hopefully write-up a stock order, make sure they have the inventory to do their week’s business

and make sure they are happy with your service.

“I really like the independence of my job, I like being self-motivated, I like how you build a relationship with a customer. It’s nice to get the sales or a new customer at the end of the day… I still get a rush from that.

“Today there are a lot of female outside sales representatives. There are a lot of positions in the aftermarket that women can fill and I would advise any female interested in the aftermarket to do what-ever they need to get into it. Even if you start at the bottom with a company and work yourself up it’s good, because that way you learn and understand the com-pany. I certainly enjoy my job—it was a good career choice.”

Women in the Aftermarket Getting Ahead in the Industry (Cont’d)

Teresa Firth


P rior to 2000, the fuel pump, whose purpose is to bring fuel to the injectors, was installed in a steel tank where a bowl was fi xed within

the fuel reservoir to allow suffi cient fuel delivery when accelerating or cornering.

As said reservoirs are now made of plastic, and it is more dif-fi cult to incorporate accessories, fuel pumps are now equipped with modules that maintain pressure and fl ow in all conditions.

Centrifugal or rollervaneManufacturers prefer to use a centrifugal or rollervane pump, which regulates the fl ow as required. Mounted in a plastic or aluminum bowl, the former remains totally submerged in fuel.

When the fuel reservoir is suffi ciently fi lled, the pump is natur-ally submerged in the reservoir, but when the fuel level does not exceed about one quarter, the module is designed with a built-in fuel jet that fi lls the bowl whenever the fuel pump is running, and consequently, is totally effi cient.

Linked to the fuel pump, this module incorporates a gauge, fl oat, strainer and, on some newer models, a built-in pressure regulator and a fuel tank pressure sensor.

Mandatory in all casesUnfortunately, all fuel pumps equipped with such a module must be replaced upon failure, since it is considered to be an assembly, strainer included.

As for fi ltering the fuel in the reservoir, an external fi lter is used as gravity fi ll for the fuel module bowl as the fuel enters from under the unit. The second strainer fi lter is found inside the bowl and supplies the pump with clean fuel.

Nevertheless, checking the fuel delivery system basically re-mains the same. Refrain from replacing anything prior to check-ing the pressure, fl ow, electrical system and fi ltration.

Fuel Supply in a Bowl

Inseparably Linkedduring the last decade, fuel delivery systems

have evolved to state-of-the-art technology

with regard to fuel pumps, which in turn,

have gone through modifi cations each year.

The 7 inescapable rulesIn conclusion, here are a few tips to keep in mind:.

1. Fuel pressure and volume readings are a must.

2. In most cases, it’s the volume (flow) that is affected by a low-performing pump. Power and ground should also be checked.

3. Fuel filters must be replaced every time a fuel delivery system concern occurs.

4. Never install a new fuel module if the fuel tank is contaminated (dirt or rust).

5. Make sure the fuel filler neck and hose are clean to avoid fuel tank contamination.

6. When installing a fuel module, fill the tank to 50% of its capacity with clean filtered gas.

7. Cycle the ignition switch several times without starting the vehicle to prime the system.

Frank [email protected]

Frank Tonon is Product Training manager for Spectra Premium and he develops training courses on the components linked to automotive

cooling systems and air conditioning.


B eing a resident of Richmond Hill, Jay always felt that “there was a need for a quality parts distribu-

tor in the area, therefore Partsmart came into existence in 2004, a fresh new store. Having worked with Toyota for 18 years as a National Parts manager, I was very knowledgeable about what was best for the market. I used my previous years’ experience and training to start a Jobber store to market not just any auto parts, but quality automotive parts.”

Currently, Partsmart encompasses over 3,000 sq. ft. in addition to a growing warehouse located on the main street in Richmond Hill. With easy access and a dedicated driver, they’re only 30 min-utes away from the Uni-Select Brampton distribution centre where they have over 300,000 line items in stock.

Not just any parts…Jay continues, “I fi nd the automotive after-market to be a very competitive market,

especially when consumers cannot dif-ferentiate in brand products and poor quality parts that are constantly entering the country. This puts consumers at a very high risk these parts will fail and they’re not even aware of it. Many consumers think that all parts and makes are the same, and that parts jobbers and install-ers overcharge them in order to make hefty profi ts.”

Education is needed“Since the opening of Partsmart, we’ve en-deavoured to educate customers and con-sumers that all parts are not same, there is always good, better and best. Over the years we have successfully educated our customers to stay with Quality Parts, which we offer at reasonable prices, along with good warranties and training—all available with the help of Uni-Select and their vendors.

“One year into the opening of our store, my son Hunar joined the team. With him

Partsmart

Jay Oberoi Saw a Need—and Met It!Jay Oberoi saw a defi nite need in his hometown of Richmond

Hill, Ontario and so decided it was time for him to start

a business selling quality automotive parts.

Jay Oberoi (r.) and his son Hunar Oberoi run Partsmart together.



PHOTOS: JACK KAZMIERSKI

he brought his IT and business knowledge which he received from his 4-year under-grad at Ryerson University. That, com-bined with parts knowledge, enabled him to take us to the next level by increasing our speed and effi ciency. With the use of online catalogues, custom programming and data management, we are able to source parts and progress our sales statis-tics at a much greater speed.

“This allows us to keep on top of trends as well as analyze our own inventory to make sure we are consistently keeping up with the changes and growth in the after-market industry.”

Uni-Select is invaluable“We believe we’ve earned our success by educating our customers to rely on Quality Parts and Quality Service. With the help of Uni-Select, we’re able to stand behind our products and offer peace of mind to service providers and their cus-tomers. Uni-Select negotiates the best deals with suppliers, enabling us to offer them at competitive prices and we have one of the best Customer Service policies. All our commercial customers have our cell phone numbers so they can contact us in case of any emergency. Our customers are our partners in our success.

“Uni-Select is a group of professionals who have a very full insight of the automotive industry. Their contribution to our success is invaluable. Partsmart has been associ-ated with Uni-Select since the opening of the store, and I am very proud to be associated with them. Their vast exposure to the continuously evolving automotive industry and their all-over Canadian and U.S. presence keeps us informed of all the changes happening in every corner of North America. This information is very vital for our long term planning, which we share with our customers. Being associ-ated with Uni-Select means we are not just a community parts jobber, but rather we are connected to all of Canada and U.S.”

Uni-Select provides…The association of Uni-Select with National accounts like OK Tire, Midas and many more is an invaluable asset for a member,


A d V E R T O R I A Land the various programs and tools pro-vided by the organization are one of the best in the industry. “These programs—such as the SAX program—not only as-sure better service, but also assure more profi tability, better warranties, increased effi ciency to our customers, the installers,” says Jay. “This program also gives install-ers great rebates that they, in turn, can use to purchase new equipment—some-thing that is always needed in Installer shops today because of the changing technologies from automakers.

“Through Uni-Select, Partsmart has com-plete access to most of the tool and equip-ment manufacturers. Their distribution centre in Brampton has a fully stocked equipment showroom where installers can visit and interact with the equipment prior to making their decision to purchase.”

Programs“In addition, through another of their programs—DAVE—we offer great network connectivity to all our customers to in-crease their effi ciency and stay connected 24/7. They can fi nd the needed parts in stock at any given time and they can see them and make sure they’re ordering the correct part. In addition, the pricing is there for them to see. DAVE is extremely

easy to use and they can update their ac-count in one click of the mouse.

“Uni-Select also has foreign nameplate parts through their Beck/Arnley parts program. This allows any of our installer customers to have quality parts compar-able to Original Equipment for imported vehicles, as well as domestic vehicles, and are also easily accessible. Recently, we introduced Beck/Arnley brake pads, which are equivalent to OE quality in function and performance.

“What has changed over the years is the fl ow of poor quality automotive parts into the country. We all talk of ‘impaired’ drivers but no one has ever spoken about ‘impaired’ vehicles. Any vehicle can be good, safe or luxurious as a re-sult of the quality parts being installed; not just any part—a quality part!

“Recent recalls from major automakers exhibit that every part in-stalled in the vehicle plays a very important role in the proper functioning of the vehicle. To our valuable customers and consumers, we always emphasize that they pay more attention to quality—the quality part that has fi t, form and func-tion just like the original equipment. We can’t say

this enough… because we believe in the quality part for the safety of the customers and people on the roads.”

Training is essential“At Partsmart, training is a most signifi cant component of our service. With so many advances in technology, it is extremely important for a technician to stay informed of new technology and repair tools. Since, we opened the store, I have attempted to attend most of the conven-tions or training seminars arranged by Uni-Select for

their members. Today, training has be-come more important than ever. With the help of various programs initiated by Uni-Select, we offer online training programs to our customers who can take advantage of it from even the comfort of their home. We also arrange visits from manufactur-ers’ reps to educate them about their products and show them proper installa-tion methods.

“At Partsmart, we are a full serve service provider; we share knowledge and infor-mation learned from Uni-Select, and our more than 35 years experience, with our customers in order for them to be more effi cient, more profi table and grow their business. Selling quality parts is one of the many services we offer. We believe in the future of quality automotive parts for safe driving through the Uni-Select network,” concludes Jay.

Rob Bookman, warehouse staff

Jay Oberoi


Text and photos: Éric Descarries [email protected]

At this point, you’ve probably

seen just about every new car

and concept vehicle that was

unveiled at the North American

International Auto Show held

in detroit last January—re-

peatedly! But there were more

than cars and trucks to be

seen—technically speaking,

the detroit Auto Show showed

us what is lurking in the dark,

what might very well be the

future of the automotive tech-

nology, and a lot of it revolves

around electric power and hy-

brid technology. yet, there were

still quite a few mechanical

wonders to look at. If you are

involved in car care, you would

probably have stopped at some

of them while visiting the show.

Details of the North American International Auto Show

Electrifying Show in Detroit

The basement of the Cobo Hall where the Detroit Auto Show is held was transformed into a hybrid car test track, but there was also an alley where tomorrow’s technology was displayed.

Some car manufacturers didn’t show up at the Detroit Auto Show. That allowed some suppliers like Denso to show their technology.

Dow was one of the suppliers on Electric Avenue.

Performance is not dead at Chrysler—check out this super fast Viper designed for club racing.

This is Ford’s new 5.0-litre V8 that powers the 2011 Mustang GT.

GM’s most recent 2.0-litre direct injection I4 turbo engine was featured in the Regal GS concept car.

Ford’s 2.0-litre four cylinder engine uses a very advanced valve timing system for better fuel economy.

Does Chrysler have a secret technology to drive a Ram on a ceiling?

Not only technicians were interested by the undercarriage of a new

Mustang.


• Hundreds of training modules • Over 6000 members

Electric Avenue was set up at the Detroit Auto Show to preview what’s coming up in automotive technology.

Michelin had an impressive booth with lots Michelin had an impressive booth with lots of technology at the Detroit Auto Show.

In 1922, the Detroit Electric was the choice of women because it did not require cranking the engine to get it started. It was also one of the last electric cars in production.

Back in the early days of the automobile, electrical power was a viable option. This 1899 Jamais Contente land speed record car is proof of the era as it hit 105 km/h in those days. Batteries were by Fulmen, tires by Michelin.

Seen at the Chrysler booth, an electric powered Fiat minicar.

Volvo had its electric C-30 at its booth. Michelin had its Motor Wheel at its Detroit booth. This is a exploded view of Ford’s hybrid technology used in its Fusion.

Steve Saleen’s business showed a lot of performance transformation at the Detroit Auto Show.


W hile no business is “recession proof,” some manage to weath-er economic storms better than

others. The automotive aftermarket, for one, has emerged from the recent

Leader Profi le

View from the TopHaving survived the recent economic downturn, the

future of the Canadian aftermarket is bright indeed!

Jack Kazmierski [email protected]

downturn in better shape than other parts of the auto industry, and the future looks brighter still.

In the business for over a quarter of a century, Gary O’Connor, Executive VP of Uni-Select has seen his share of recessions and business cycles. “Overall, everything considered, I think our industry had a good year in a tough economy,” he says

of last year’s recession. “We are fortun-ate that cars are a necessity in our world. People will always need someone to fi x and maintain them.”

Facing challengesEconomic ups and downs are but one of the challenges facing the aftermarket. Constant change is also a major concern, and more pronounced these days with the advent of hybrids, electric vehicles, and other innovations that are sure to change the way we do business. O’Connor, how-ever, isn’t concerned with the fast pace of change.

“Cars have always evolved and changed,” he says. “Hybrids are just another form of change. They still have brakes and ‘nor-mal’ parts, just like other vehicles. They need to be serviced and maintained, and I think there’s an opportunity for us to in-crease our business by offering parts and services specifi cally for these newer types of vehicles.”

Rising to the top

O’Connor got into the auto business in 1984, spent a number of years on the manufacturing side as a sales rep, and worked his way up to regional manager and national manager. His latest move saw him joining Uni-Select to serve as Executive VP. Currently, O’Connor is re-sponsible for all of Canada, as well as all the independent business in the USA.

His rise to the top was calculated and methodical. “It was a well-managed rise over time,” O’Connor says. “I never bit off more than I could chew and I always worked with good people and in places where there was opportunity for growth.”

O’Connor believes a business leader needs experience, confi dence and integ-rity on his side. Hard work is a must, and challenges are par for the course. The key to success, he believes, is to hire people who are more skilled than you are. “I have worked with a lot of great people and I have observed how they handle them-selves and how they deal with challenging situations,” he says. “You have to hire above you, not below you.”

Dealing with changeLooking toward the future, O’Connor sees more change on the horizon. “Cars are getting better,” he says, “but there’s noth-ing we can do about that. The key is not to sweat the things you can’t change, and focus instead on what you can do to increase the value of your organization.”

Emerging from the recent economic down-turn, O’Connor is confi dent that the future of the Canadian aftermarket is bright in-deed. “We have an incredibly undervalued industry that generates a lot of jobs, a lot of dollars and a lot of goodwill,” he says. “Our industry has weathered the eco-nomic turndown very well and we are all fortunate to be in this business. I am very bullish on the future and I think things can only get better for everybody.”

“Things can only get better.” – Gary O’Connor



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S ome shops may decide to offer their customers A/C performance testing—either invasive (check-

ing system pressures) or not (function and temperatures only)—but there are other components that require atten-tion, and some of these can be checked quickly and easily while performing other maintenance.

The oft-forgotten drive belt Perhaps the most overlooked components of the air conditioning system are the drive belt and tensioner. Even though the compressor may already have been auto-matically coming on with the defroster on warm days without incident, it has yet to place the kind of loads on the drive system that the high system pressures of the hot days of summer will.

A quick visual inspection of the belt and the drive pulleys can reveal not only a worn or damaged belt, but in the case of multi-rib belts, misaligned components. In particular, look for exposed shiny areas on

metal pulleys that indicate that the belt’s position has recently deviated from an earlier wear path. This may be a sign of a worn tensioner, or possibly a failing bear-ing in a water pump or other accessory.

In many vehicles the spring-loaded ten-sioner can be checked for sticking or seizing by tugging or pushing on the belt enough to defl ect the mechanism’s arm.

Keeping it coolWinter can be tough on air defl ectors and condenser fi ns. Many newer vehicles bring the majority of their cooling air in from below the front bumper. If a snowbank has removed the air defl ector that many cars have beneath their radiator support, high-way-speed cooling performance can suf-fer, since the airfl ow passes beneath the vehicle instead of being forced through the condenser and radiator.

Winter damage can also extend to the condenser fins or even the condenser itself.

A/C Care

Pre-Summer A/C InspectionsThe heat of summer is just a few short months away, so the

time to begin paying attention to your customers’ air condition-

ing system has arrived.

Brian [email protected]

Brian Early is a full-time automotive technician in addition to his journalistic endeavours.

I’ve actually had the odd customer vehicle where the rad opening is still stuffed full of fall leaves in the spring. More commonly, the leaves fi nd their way into the fresh air intake in the cowl or the cabin fi lter, where they can reduce heater system airflow and cause odours—this is common in GM minivans, and will affect A/C performance.

Control checkIt seems obvious to verify whether or not the heater system’s blend door can change from warm to cold, but there is often an underhood partner to the blend door in the form of a coolant shut-off valve. This valve is frequently actuated by a vacuum motor, but in many import models is controlled by a cable linked to the heater’s temperature control.

While not always as easy to check as a belt or condenser, it’s a good idea to verify its operation during an A/C inspection; fail-ure of this valve to block coolant fl ow can result in warmer than desired outlet air temperatures as the heater core bleeds heat into the system’s components.

Whether as part of an A/C inspection, or just a value-added courtesy for your cli-ents, a few extra seconds spent can bene-fi t both you and your customer.


TRIUMPHS

Triumphs are discovered everyday by those affected with neuromuscular disorders.Together with your support, we’re providing assistance to find personal triumphs everyday.

Please consider supporting the 37th Annual Golf Tournamenton June 10th with all proceeds to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Muscular Dystrophy Canada Ambassador Danielle Peers Carries Olympic TorchEdmonton, AB - Muscular Dystrophy Canada Ambassador and Paralympics’ bronze medalist Danielle Peers wheeled the Olympic Torch through Edmonton streets on

Wednesday, January 13, 2010. Danielle used a wheelchair equipped with winter tires and a specially designed torch holder to make the 400-metre trek down Groat Road.

This ad space generously donated by the publisher.

NEW 2010 VENUEStation Creek

Golf & Country ClubStouffville, ON

10:00am shotgun start

If you would like to become a sponsor of or make a donation to SHAD’s R&R“For the Kids”, please contact one of our board members directly.

Shad’s Board of Directors:Chairman: John Vanstone – [email protected] Directors: Brad Shaddick – [email protected]

Bill Blair – [email protected] Ken Coulter – [email protected]

Ray Osika – [email protected] Mike Holland – [email protected] Champagne – [email protected]

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MACS 2010 Convention despite the uncertain economic climate and a reces-sion from which we are only starting to recover, the latest Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Convention once again attracted experts in the fi eld, who attend this event year after year, anticipating networking opportunities and new encounters as well as a chance to visit the various trade show exhibitors who come from all over the world.

The MACS Convention Trade Show receives exhibitors and visitors from all over the world every year.

(PHOTO: LUC CHAMPAGNE)

Paul DeGuiseppi, manager of service training for MACS, looks pensive in front of this 2010 Toyota Prius.

Moving Forward

T his year, MACS celebrated its 30th anniversary convention. The three-day annual event took place at the

Rio Hotel in Las Vegas and assembled about 1,200 visitors and 97 exhibitors in 160 booths. Attendees representing 30 different countries came to the show to conduct business and be updated on technical and regulatory advances. To complete the program, 25 speakers gave state-of-the-art presentations on technical and regulatory subjects.

Elvis L. Hoffpauir, MACS’ president and chief operating offi cer, said he was quite satisfi ed with the over-all results. “We are proud of our 30th Anniversary Convention and Trade Show and of the many attendees, sponsors and exhibitors who made the effort in an uncertain economy to bring the industry together to discuss business, regulations, and technical issues. The general vibe at the show was optimism for a renewed business climate as companies have achieved encouraging results, having brought changes to reflect the present economy. The industry has a positive out-look for the upcoming summer season.”

New refrigerant Paul DeGuiseppi, manager of service training for MACS, gave us an overview of the convention from a technical angle: “I’m sure that the fi rst question everybody has in mind is if there is news about the marketing of the new HFO-1234yf re-frigerant. I would say that, even though we’re all waiting for manufacturers to commit themselves, the transition looks inevitable. The timing has to be appro-priate before such major changes take place, and I think that the current delay is

normal.” DeGuiseppi adds that in Europe, it appears that they’ve given up the idea of using CO2 (carbon dioxide) for several reasons. “Under certain conditions, run-ning the compressor can use more en-gine power, which can increase exhaust emissions, and it was also found that the system performance was not quite satis-factory in hot climates. I expect them to follow the trend here and switch to HFO-1234yf too.”

New technologiesAmong the new technologies from manu-facturers, DeGuiseppi mentioned the new A/C system introduced by Toyota on the 2010 Prius, which contains an ejector—that acts like a venturi—and a new two-section evaporator. “As for the engine, if you open the hood of the car, you will see no belts at all,” he adds. “Everything runs on electrical power: the water pump,

the A/C compressor, the steer-ing, and even the batteries are charged through the inverter.”

Training is mandatoryDeGuiseppi considers that the

technicians who stay up to date technic-ally and who participate in regular train-ing programs have a defi nite advantage and will easily adapt to new technologies, whatever they are. “Recently, we have seen new regulations, equipment, technol-ogies and a new refrigerant from various car manufacturers. The name of the game is to train, read and attend seminars, and you’ll stay on top of everything,” concludes the ASE certifi ed technician-trainer.

MACS’ 2011 Convention and Trade Show will take place from January 27-29 at disney’s Coronado Springs Hotel in Orlando, Florida.


The trade show booths of the MACS

convention are favoured places to

discover new products and technologies in heating and cooling

science. (PHOTO : LUC CHAMPAGNE)

François Charron [email protected]

A Transition Period Bertrand Matte, manager, Product Development, Temperature Control for Uni-Select, was among the attendees and shares with us the event’s main highlights.

“The air conditioning industry is currently going through a period of transition and consolidation,” says Matte. “The new HFO-1234yf refrigerant has proven itself and successfully passed a series of conclu-sive tests; and even though it remains a slightly fl ammable replacement product, its properties are so close to those of R-134a that very few modifi cations will be needed on these new air conditioning systems with which some cars—a few models only— will be equipped, perhaps by the end of 2011, according to realistic unoffi cial previsions.

Few noticeable changes“Among the noticeable changes, these sys-tems will have a new type of fi tting to con-nect to the new testing equipment, which

must comply with the J-2788 standard concerning accuracy and sealing protec-tion,” continues Matte. “The pressures within the system will be quite similar to those of the R-134a, and in order to compensate for the slight fl ammability of the new gas, the new evaporators will be made stronger to prevent accidental leaks within the cabin or due to the vehicle’s aging.

Price increase?“The main advantage of this new refriger-ant is really its low GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 4 compared to 150 for the R-134a, definitely an improvement in relation to global warming and the ozone layer. It is the price we have to pay to protect the planet and our quality of life. But there could be an additional price to pay: we expect the HFO-1234yf to cost about five times more to produce than R-134a and as soon as production begins, it could create a shortage of the old gas, creating a price increase. Let’s hope that

this remains pure speculation. And, retro-fi t will neither be allowed nor possible to adapt the cars currently using R-134a.”

TrainingThis year, Matte plans to focus the train-ing for his Uni-Select clients on modern air conditioning systems maintenance. “We now have to learn to deal with circuits that have a higher sealing degree of protec-tion, that contain less refrigerant, with more effi cient, albeit smaller compressors and more sophisticated systems. This could become very profi table for repair shops that want a higher share of the markets created by these new technolo-gies and the new HFO-1234yf gas, even though most cars equipped with the new refrigerant will only hit the aftermarket around 2017, except for collision repair shops and those subcontracting air condi-tioning to car dealers.”

www.macsw.org

Bertrand Matte, coach and speaker, shares the main highlights of the MACS convention which he attends every year. (PHOTO: MARIE-JOSÉE ROUSSEAU)

« The new HFO-1234yf refrigerant has proven itself and passed a series of conclusive tests. » – Bertrand Matte


D rivers have the impression that a slight play in the steering wheel is normal. What they actually do is

compensate the free play by slightly turn-ing the steering wheel. They don’t realize that some part in the steering linkage is starting to show signs of wear. I believe that consumers should be more educated about the seriousness and safety haz-ard of worn suspension parts.

NoiseNoise in the suspension of the vehicle is quite obviously an indication that some part is not functioning properly. The driver sometimes dismisses noises as they do not want to suspect anything major.

Cracking, ticking, rattling, popping noises require immediate attention. Noise trav-els and sometimes it is difficult to pin-point further diagnostics so road tests are required to isolate the source. Sway bar bushings and sway bar links are com-mon noises, so are the upper spring seats and bearings, but don’t overlook other components. Worn ball joints may emit a cracking noise when turning the steering wheel; a loose tie rod can sound like a clicking noise or a thump, especially when going over bumps. There are many mov-ing parts in the suspension and any one of them can be a source for noise.

Tight tolerancesThe tolerances allowed for most ball joints, tie rod ends and idler arms are so little that drivers will not notice a difference in the steering. When he does feel a pull or shimmy, let’s hope he will make arrange-ments to have a front-end inspection. A

set of tires can wear out in no time and they are not cheap. Most alignment shops have skilled front-end specialists and most have access to the latest high tech racks. These experts will make the vehicle steer straight again.

Winter is no excuse not to have the vehicle checked; I personally think it’s the best time of year. Be aware that snow has a dampening effect on suspension parts and some noises are isolated.

Worn suspension parts can compromise vehicle safetyMajor suspension parts such as ball joints, idler arms, pitman arms, and tie rods will wear in time. But, let’s not forget smaller parts such as control arm bushings. This part is not necessarily big in size but it can create a pull or wear other suspension

components. With zero tolerance, any movement and it has to be replaced.

A thorough inspection of the steering and suspension should be performed before the aligning the wheels. There are various inspection methods for checking

ball joints, tie rods, idler arms and bush-ings. Some may use methods that are unacceptable. Referring to OE manuals is the most reliable source.

Chassis clinicsI strongly recommend that techs attend chassis clinic to keep up to date on the latest changes—no matter how good you are, you always learn something.

Finally, do not substitute quality parts with a no name brand. Go for a well known brand that has a good reputation, rep-resentation, and that is known to manu-factures reliable and safe parts. Quality parts and repairs are priceless—is it worth the risk of losing your customer? Think about it.

Safety Counts

How Safe Is Your Customer’s Suspension?Many vehicles are driven hundreds of thousand kilometres each year and drivers are unaware

that some of the steering linkage and suspension components are worn and unsafe.

Pierre Lalonde www.affi niagroup.com

Control arm bushing—if worn it can cause a steering pull, wear out tires and other suspension parts.

Sway bar link—when worn it makes a noticeable noise, most of the time a “click.”


Advantages of being a network member2 Unlimited web access to the solutions

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Affi nia Group NewsAs part of its continuing strategic plan

implementation, Affi nia Group sold its Com-mercial distribution Europe business unit, known as Quinton Hazell, to Klarius Group Limited and Auto Holding Paris S.A.S. The divestiture enables Affi nia to focus on its core businesses and global growth strat-egy. Quinton Hazell is a diverse aftermarket manufacturer and distributor of automotive components throughout Europe. The com-pany has approximately 750 people and is headquartered in Hinckley, Warwickshire, which is also its main U.K. warehousing and distribution operation.

Further to the divesture of Quinton Hazel, we’ve learned that Affinia’s Mississauga, ON distribution operations will be closing by the end of this quarter. Parts previously shipped from the Mississauga facility will, during the fi rst quarter, begin to be shipped from Affi nia’s facilities in McHenry, IL, and Modesto, CA.

COASTAL & Recochem Enter Strategic Agreement

COASTAL Blending & Packaging en-tered into a long-term agreement with Recochem for exclusive production, packaging, and distribution of auto-motive windshield washer fluid and Anti-Freeze products throughout east-ern Canada and New England.

COASTAL will divest of sales and marketing of their Irving and Cobra branded windshield washer and auto-motive anti-freeze products in ex-change for a signifi cant commitment of production throughput in the Saint John, New Brunswick facility.

2010 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium

Aftermarket Next: Insights on a New Generation of Customers and Employers will take place May 18-19 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois.

Educational sessions at this year’s event include How Automotive Repair Service Chains Are Gain-ing Traction in Today’s Market, Why do Auto-motive Service Providers Leave Billions Unsold? (which will be given by Canada’s John Watt—National Manager, CERTIGARd Franchised Operations, Petro-Canada), and the shop owner’s panel on How to Re-pair Tomorrow’s Cars—driving Connected.

For more information about these and other education sessions, and about GAAS as a whole, go to www.globalsymposium.org.

INdUSTRy NEWS


L et’s take a look at some of the haz-ards that could, but shouldn’t, be found around the work area. Did

you ever hear the story about a technician that was in a hurry and didn’t notice the wet spot on the gas tank? His customer’s car needed new suspension parts; he was trying to do the job quickly and decided to save time removing the old parts. He took his acetylene torch over to the car and started to go to work on the rusted part. You know the rest… the gas tank blew up, the car toppled off the hoist and the tech was pinned underneath. The result of not noticing the fuel leak!

Most hazards are fairly obvious around the shop but how about those that aren’t? Fuel spills should be cleaned up immedi-ately… no telling when a spark could reach that puddle from various sources around the bay. Fire codes regulate this but just in case, you should have a fi re extinguisher readily available and it must be the type that can handle grease and fl ammable liquids. Needless to say, no one should be smoking in the shop area!

You need to use extreme care when jump-ing or charging a battery. Batteries give off hydrogen gas and can explode even from a slight spark. This could lead to a serious eye injury so please use safety glasses. And don’t forget, if the built-in charge indicator shows yellow, put the battery on the scrap pile—the one in the recycling section in the dry, secure area of the shop.

Major hazardsWe’ve only identifi ed a couple of hazards

but there are many to be dealt with and as a shop owner, you need to be on top of them. The Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) site has a lot of information avail-able on www.ossa.com, and there are sites like this in every province, so check them out.

The OSSA lists the major hazards as:

• Hoists

• Designated Substances e.g. Isocyanates

• Dispensing and storage of flammable and combustible liquids

• Bonding and grounding

• Sandblasting

• Compressed gas

• Driving

• Availability and use of Personal Protective Equipment

• Chemical Hazards

• Storage of waste paint/solvents

• Explosions due to cross mixing of solvent and waterborne waste streams.

As the owner, you need to be sure you have made no concessions when it comes to the health and safety of your employees.

The OSSA site also states the following: “Ontario’s automotive sector straddles

many sub sectors—auto dealerships,

body shops, lubricators, tire dealers, auto

recyclers, and other ancillary services.

And each sub sector faces its own unique

business challenges. A common thread

that runs across every single auto sector

fi rm is the need to ensure there are no

compromises when it comes to workplace

health and safety. Here’s why:

• Ministry of Labour fines and penalties levied for workplace health and safety violations have the potential to punch a big hole in your profit-ability;

• Health and safety claims made to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) could result in increased premiums;

• Staff turnover due to workplace injuries adds to recruitment and training costs.

“The majority of business owners have

realized that having an effective work-

place health and safety program can

help to save valuable resources. However,

some still resist investing in health and

safety due to the cost perception. What

they don’t take into account is that in-

vesting in prevention reduces overall

costs—both direct and indirect, improves

employee retention and reduces the likeli-

hood of a visit by enforcement authorities

or being selected for a health and safety

audit.

“The Occupational Health & Safety Act

places the responsibility of protecting

the health and safety of workers primar-

ily on their employers and managers.

What follows is a high-level overview of

the process of identifying and address-

ing workplace hazards at vehicle sales &

service fi rms.”

There is another article in this issue that tells you of your obligations to your em-ployees as outlined in Bill C-45. You might want to read that as well—it’s on page 36.

Health and Safety

Is Your Shop Safe?Health and safety are big items today. As a shop owner, you

need to be aware of hazards around the shop… it could be

costly if you don’t.



Industry Events

2010 Canadian International AutoShow Tech HighlightsAdvances in technology

have allowed manufactur-

ers to design and build

vehicles that are safer,

cleaner and more reliable

than ever before. The in-

credible technologies avail-

able on today’s vehicles

can make you stop and

wonder, “how did they do

that?” This year’s Canadian

International AutoShow put

technology on centre stage

with gadgets and gizmos

that make us wonder what

future automobiles might

be like.2011 Hyundai Sonata

Infiniti M sound system


Jack Kazmierski [email protected]

Audi R8The stunning Audi R8 Spyder comes with a worldwide fi rst—an optional seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit, making it possible to talk on the phone even with the top down on the highway. Three small, fl at mi-crophones are integrated into both seatbelts. At least one of them is ide-ally positioned relative to the speaker when the belt is on. A fourth micro-phone is in the windshield frame.

Infi niti M sound systemThe new M from Infi niti is available with a surround sound audio sys-tem that includes personal speakers mounted in the seats.

MyLincoln Touch and MyFord Touch systemsFord and Lincoln owners will soon be able to enjoy Star Trek-like con-trols with the new MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch systems—designed to de-clutter the dash area. The sys-tem will even allow users to log onto the Internet, and drivers will be able to personalize many aspects of the in-car experience, including home screen, technology settings, and con-venience features.

Volvo City SafetyVolvo’s City Safety system applies the brakes automatically when it de-termines that a collision is imminent. At speeds below 15 km/h, City Safety can bring the car to a complete stop. At speeds above this threshold, City Safety slows the vehicle as much as possible in order to minimize the se-verity of the impact.

Mercedes-Benz S400 HybridThe Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid is the fi rst hybrid model from Mercedes-Benz, and the world’s first series-production hybrid drive system with a lithium-ion battery—a much more compact alternative to the large bat-teries employed in hybrids to date.

Mazda RX8 Hydrogen REEquipped with a ‘dual-fuel’ power system, the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE is capable of operating just as well on hydrogen as on gasoline. In addition to a gasoline fuel tank, there are two hydrogen tanks located in the trunk. Switching from hydrogen gas to gasoline can be done using a button near the steering wheel, even while the vehicle is in motion.

2011 Hyundai SonataThe new Hyundai Sonata comes with Hyundai’s new Theta II GDI 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI) fuel delivery system, which contributes to improved fuel effi ciency and lower emissions. With GDI, the shorter, more direct path of fuel delivery allows for greater control of the fuel mixture, thus improving efficiency. The fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven, high pressure pump that operates at pressures up to 2,175 psi. Direct injection also utilizes a higher than normal 11.3:1 compression ratio for increased power. The pistons are “dished” to increase combustion ef-fi ciency in the cylinder.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7This symbiosis of an upgraded twin-turbo, High Precision Direct Injection, V8 engine with a 3-phase synchro-nous electric motor gives the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 a combined output of 455 hp and maximum torque of 516 lb-ft. Power is transmitted via an 8-speed automatic transmission with the electric motor positioned between the engine and the torque converter. The electric motor receives its supply of energy from a lithium-ion battery developed specifi cally for use in this automobile.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE

MyLincoln Touch system

Audi R8

Volvo City Safety


François Charron [email protected] in the Workplace and Quality of Repairs

You Have a Legal Responsibilitydid you know that if one of your employees is assigned a task for which he isn’t

trained, or if he isn’t aware of the health and safety program in place at your

facility, you or your representatives could be charged with criminal negligence?

T he same could be true for a car ac-cident involving bodily injuries or death that is found to have been

caused by a previous repair done in a rough-and-ready fashion, or without re-specting the manufacturer’s procedures and standards.

Bill C-45Bill C-45, enacted as a law in 2004, modi-fi es the Criminal Code to allow for a busi-ness to be prosecuted for criminal neg-ligence towards its employees (Article 217.1) or its clients (Article 219).

Question How does this affect your business?

Answer First, it does affect your responsibility as an employer with respect to occupational health and safety. Second, it affects your responsibility as a service provider.

Criminal negligenceArticle 217.1 of the Criminal Code states that you have the responsibility, as an em-ployer, to ensure that your workplace does not represent, for your employees and the general public, any hazards of bodily injuries or even death; it also states that you have the obligation to take “the ne-cessary measures” to ensure their safety. You are bound to know your obligations under the laws and standards relating to occupational health and safety, the poten-tial hazards in your repair shop, and the measures undertaken to circumscribe or eliminate them.

Employer’s obligation You must also communicate your occu-pational health and safety plan to your

employees and train them on any poten-tial hazards and on the use of protective equipment. In the event you are not taking these measures, and an accident occurs in your repair shop causing bodily injur-ies and even death, you could be facing sanctions and heavy fi nes. In other words, if the Workers Compensation Centre con-

cludes that there was negligence following a serious injury or the death of one of your employees while working in your work-place, a police investigation will follow, which could lead to charges of criminal negligence.*

In addition, criminal responsibility can now be attributed to the owners, man-agers, employees, representatives, or sub-contractors of a business, depending on the nature of the offence, as opposed to the “legal entity” as was the case in the past.

Quality of repairsFor its part, article 219 of the Criminal

Code stipulates that, “…Everyone is crim-inally negligent who, in doing anything, or in omitting to do anything that it is his duty to do, shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons.”

Needless to say that you have the obligation, as a automotive repair facility owner, to

ensure that every car repaired in your fa-cility is being repaired in accordance with the standards and requirements of the car manufacturer. It is fairly simple to avoid fi nding yourself in such a situation: fi rst, contact the Workers Compensation Centre to obtain information about the measures you need to take in order to ensure the safety and security of your employees; second, make sure all your employees know and apply the standard repair pro-cedures of the car manufacturer. You are in the driver’s seat…

www.cchst.ca/oshanswers/legisl/billc45.html

* Until now, there have only been three cases leading to accusations.

you are bound to know your obliga-tions under the laws and standards.


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Uni-Select 20, 21

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Virginia Lawmakers Reject Exhaust Noise Bill

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Mar-ket Association) recently reported that the Transportation Committee of the Virginia House of delegates has aban-doned the bill to ban the sale of any aftermarket exhaust system compon-

ent that would cause a vehicle to produce what it considered as “excessive or unusual noise.” SEMA had asked lawmakers to reject the bill but still adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modifi ed exhaust systems easier to verify, just like California did by respecting the SAE established noise limit of 95 decibels as also used in Washington, Maine, and Montana.

INdUSTRy NEWS

AAIA’s Online Aftermarket Training and Education Resource

With the unveiling of its new online directory for aftermarket training and education, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry As-sociation (AAIA) urges all aftermarket companies and associations to submit their resources for inclusion. The directory of Resour-ces for Industry Valued Education (dRIVE) is a one-stop resource enabling the industry to easily locate available training and edu-cation information, materials and programs.

dRIVE’s resources were submitted by professional sources that provide training and education to the aftermarket. It uses the Google search format—users can enter keywords, and their pre-ferred training format type into the designated Google search box on the AAIA education and training Web page and generate a list of resources. List refi nement options are also available.

To utilize the new directory, visit www.aftermarket.org/DRIVE. Included at the Web site is a link to a form for submitting train-ing and education resources.

HDRG Names ArvinMeritor 2010 Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year

At the 2010 Reman Summit in Las Vegas, the Heavy duty Remanufacturing Group (HdRG) of the Automotive Parts Re-manufacturers Association (APRA) awarded ArvinMeritor its “Mike Hill Heavy duty Remanufacturer of the year Award.” The award is given to a company or individual who has demonstrated innova-tive ways to create and grow a successful business model and in the process supported industry efforts to advance the science of remanufacturing.

ArvinMeritor was selected because of its success in executing a customer driven growth strategy that incorporates an all makes broad application based product portfolio with a world class de-livery system relying on lean and green manufacturing production of innovative cutting edge products, such as their remanufactured brake shoes with PlatinumShield Coating.


Dave Redinger is a mechanic with over 45 years experience. He owns and operates his own shop in the Toronto area. Dave hosts “Dave’s Corner Garage”

seen on national television—Sun TV on Sunday mornings. Dave’s Corner Garage deals with automotive issues.

Dave Redinger [email protected]

T here are rumours that the Drive Clean pro-gram (Ontario’s emission testing program) will be undergoing major changes in the com-

ing years. The changes include phasing out of the mandatory dynamometer test and relying on the data supplied by the onboard data stream. Here we go again!

Think back for a moment. Do you remember how we were all going to get rich with all the new busi-ness emission testing work was going to bring in? How about the close to $100,000 most shops invested in this equipment? So is all this stuff now worthless? Well the hard truth is that we, as an industry, were duped.

No return on investmentReality bites! Take into account the 100k invest-ment, the loss of a service bay, the cost of training and keeping an emissions tech, and it all adds up to a major disappointment. We never saw the promised return on investment.

On a personal note, when approached with this opportunity, our shop declined the offer because, quite frankly, we didn’t see how it would benefi t our business. The whole thing didn’t make sense, so we opted out.

However, some shops did step up. They were con-vinced that they would get loads of emission work from this program. In the beginning, that was true. But as time passed and the old dirty cars were taken out of service, that “extra” work quickly dried up. Soon over 90% of tested vehicles were passing, and the level of emissions-related work dropped steadily.

The number of vehicles that pass emissions testing continues to rise, prompting the government to

re-think the program. Was Drive Clean necessary? Not really. As older vehicles went out of service, and technologies improved, the fleet basically cleaned itself up.

Focus on safetyI always felt this program hurt the financially-challenged owners who drove these older vehicles. Drive Clean is a cash grab. However, while the government focuses solely on emissions, a serious concern remains unchallenged—safety.

In Ontario, a vehicle is only inspected if and when it changes hands. In effect you can drive oblivious of the mechanical condition of your car and not have to worry about complying with safety standards.

Annual testing is the norm in Great Britain. Called the MoT (shorthand for Ministry of Transport), vehicles must meet a minimum safety standard in order to be licensed for the road.

I’m not suggesting that we introduce annual test-ing and scrap the Drive Clean program. What I’m suggesting is we marry the two. Have a mandatory minimum mechanical inspection performed when a vehicle is emission tested. Just think of the bene-fi ts to public safety and the industry.

Maybe it’s time for us to tackle the safety stan-dards issue. We have invested a lot of time and energy in emissions testing, so why not put forth the same effort to launch a vehicle safety program?

The expertise is already out there. We have tens of thousands of professionals in the Canadian aftermarket that can do the work, and the need for such a program is clear. The only think missing is the political will to make it happen. It’s up to our legislators to make a move.

Garage Business

Up in SmokeIf rumours are right and the drive Clean program is going to change, then perhaps it will change for the better.

Over 90% of

tested vehicles

are passing,

and the level of

emissions-related

work has dropped

steadily.


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